Spanish - Politeness

Lesson 6 of 159

Learner smiling while practicing polite Spanish phrases like requests and thanks.

Goal: Simple polite requests, thanks, and quick responses

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson builds friendly, useful phrases you can use right away. We'll keep it light and practical—no grammar deep-dives, just polite Spanish you can try out loud.

Level A1: In lesson 6 you'll practice polite requests and everyday responses like asking for permission, saying thank you, asking someone to wait, and reassuring them. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on six ready-to-use chunks: making polite requests (¿Puedo ___, por favor?), thanking someone (Gracias por ___.), asking someone to wait (Un momento, por favor.), giving something (Aquí tienes.), calming someone (No te preocupes.), and checking approval (¿Está bien?).

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use basic polite frames to ask for things or permission (A1).
  • Say short thanks and quick reassurances in everyday situations.
  • Understand and respond to simple polite requests and offers.
Two people in a café using polite Spanish requests and quick responses for everyday interactions.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

¿Puedo ___, por favor?

Can I ___, please?

Meaning: Can I ___, please?

When to use: Use this frame to politely ask permission or to request to do something for yourself (e.g., enter, use, sit).

Tip: Forgetting 'por favor' makes the request less polite; also avoid using 'puedes' when asking for your own action.

¿Puedo entrar, por favor?
Can I come in, please?
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta, por favor?
Can I pay by card, please?

Gracias por ___.

Thanks for ___.

Meaning: Thanks for ___.

When to use: Say this to thank someone for a specific action or thing (use a noun or an infinitive verb after 'por').

Gracias por ayudar.
Thanks for helping.
Gracias por la comida.
Thanks for the meal.

Un momento, por favor.

Just a moment, please.

Meaning: Just a moment, please.

When to use: Use this phrase to politely ask someone to wait briefly while you find something or finish a quick task.

Un momento, por favor, busco su reserva.
Just a moment, please — I'm looking for your reservation.
Un momento, por favor. Ahora vuelvo.
Just a moment, please. I'll be right back.

Aquí tienes.

Here you go.

Meaning: Here you go.

When to use: Give something to someone politely (informal tú form). For a formal situation use 'Aquí tiene.'

Tip: Don't use 'tiene' and 'tienes' interchangeably; 'tienes' is informal (tú), 'tiene' is formal (usted).

Aquí tienes tu taza.
Here you go — your cup.
Aquí tienes el menú.
Here you go — the menu.

No te preocupes.

Don't worry.

Meaning: Don't worry.

When to use: Use this to reassure someone after a small mistake or when they apologize.

No te preocupes, está bien.
Don't worry, it's okay.
No te preocupes, lo arreglaré.
Don't worry, I'll fix it.

¿Está bien?

Is that okay?

Meaning: Is that okay?

When to use: Ask if a plan or change is acceptable; useful for checking if someone agrees.

¿Está bien si abro la ventana?
Is it okay if I open the window?
¿Está bien así?
Is that okay like this?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Borrowing a phone and a short exchange of polite phrases

Anna politely asks to borrow a phone and David responds with polite phrases and reassurance.

What does Anna ask to do?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Hola, ¿Puedo usar tu teléfono, por favor?

Hi, can I use your phone, please?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Un momento, por favor. Estoy buscando mi cargador.

Just a moment, please. I'm looking for my charger.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Gracias por esperar.

Thanks for waiting.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Aquí tienes.

Here you go.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Está bien si lo uso un minuto?

Is it okay if I use it for a minute?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

No te preocupes.

Don't worry.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish phrase means 'Just a moment, please.'?

How would you say 'Here you go.' when handing someone something informally?

Which phrase is a polite frame to ask permission for yourself?

Which is the best Spanish phrase for 'Don't worry.'?

At the counter, the worker asks customers to wait: 'Just a moment, please.'

At the counter, the worker asks customers to wait: '___'

You want to say 'Thanks for the help.' You say: 'Thanks for helping.'

You want to say 'Thanks for the help.' You say: '___'

You hand someone their keys and say: 'Here you go.'

You hand someone their keys and say: '___'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedo ___, por favor?

Can I ___, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Gracias por ___.

Thanks for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Un momento, por favor.

Just a moment, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

Aquí tienes.

Here you go.

Say this phrase out loud:

No te preocupes.

Don't worry.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Está bien?

Is that okay?